This collection has been an exciting journey with the typical ups and downs that an artistic experiment provides. I had so much fun and frustration creating my first official collection; yet the vulnerability required to share it with the world has surprised me (more on that later).
I created many of these pieces before I had even decided to make a full collection. There they sat on the shelf; un-coloured, un-fired, un-glazed. Waiting for something to happen. But once I started going, it was hard to stop. Making my own coloured slip was a tedious process, but pouring the colour over each piece was mesmerising. I uncovered a method that I can see myself using over and over again, producing different results each time.
The firing stage of any ceramic work always keeps me on tenterhooks. The big reveal is sometimes a revelation of a mistake or major flaw in the making. Each time I pulled something from the kiln it was like seeing it for the first time, even though I made it with my own two hands.
The thing that really solidified this project for me was having professional photography done. I am fortunate to have a beautiful friend who also happens to be the best photographer in Christchurch (and beyond). A huge thank you to Charlie from Charlie Rose Creative for her amazing work in bringing to life this collection. You can visit Charlie and her stunning work here.
Having these photos taken really made me feel like an artist once and for all.
Back to the vulnerability I mentioned...
It makes me feel rather nervous to announce something like a first collection. I have struggled to find my feet in my career, and so all the usual doubts can creep in when putting your name (and face) to something as public as a website and a body of work.
But, at the end of it I really believe in creative expression. I believe in it for myself and I believe it in for others. In fact, I believe in it for everyone! Creativity is a natural human driver; we live for it. We are born with the instinct to make, fix, construct, imagine, develop, play, perform, and be joyous doing so.
So, this is my joyful expression of creativity at this point in time. It might change tomorrow, or it might not. Next week I might be doing street art (unlikely), or the week after I might be book binding.
But whatever it is, this is now and this is my contribution to a creative legacy that I will no doubt be working on until the day I die. If you are waiting for permission to get started on something, or re-start something, or perhaps abandon something to start something new…this is it!
With much gratitude,
Nikitta x